Kansas basketball: Bill Self discusses next season and his future as head coach

On a podcast with Jeff Goodman and Rob Dauster, Bill Self discussed what he expects from next year’s Kansas basketball team and his heart condition.

While some questioned whether or not Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self would step foot in Allen Fieldhouse again after his health scare, he has made it very clear during this year’s offseason that he’s not going anywhere — nor are dominant Kansas basketball teams.

Self has assembled one of the best rosters that Kansas has ever had — at least on paper. The Jayhawks have a lot of expectations going into the upcoming season, and it should be one of the most exciting seasons fans have ever witnessed.

Self was on the Field of 68 podcast earlier this week, sharing plenty of important personal information and his thoughts about the transfer portal, his expectations, his health, and more.

Bill Self lost eight guys in the transfer portal this off-season. Self was only expecting five or six to depart from Lawrence, a big one being soon-to-be sophomore Ernest Udeh Jr. So while the transfer portal has allowed him to obtain new players, it also hurts to see less experienced players never tap into their potential at Kansas.

Nonetheless, Self is ecstatic about the roster he has for 2023-24. He believes upperclassmen leadership will play a huge factor in their success during the season. He claimed it would also be a suitable environment for the younger guys to be around. The experience will rub off on the freshmen, and it could lead to a banner year squad.

To conclude his thoughts on the portal, he believes that while the transfer portal is good at the time, it won’t be sustainable for the college basketball industry. Self doesn’t believe in collegiate athletes transferring schools year after year, claiming it can lead to massive conflicts over time.

Self also spoke about the health scare that resulted in him being unable to coach in the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament last season.

His thoughts were straightforward, as he said it wasn’t only a scare for everyone in the Jayhawk community but also for himself.

He stated that he knew about the concerns earlier in the season but never reported it to anyone until it got severe. He was relieved to have been treated correctly when he finally shared the information with the Kansas University Medical Center, and he is now feeling healthy once again.

Self took it as a reminder not to be afraid to change if needed. He knew he was having problems, and the issues didn’t go away until he changed his thought process about it.

The situation has revived him into a better lifestyle, and he is looking forward to coaching a healthy season as Kansas’ head coach.

Regarding next year’s roster, Self made some bold comments. He said that Arterio Morris could be as good as any other guard in the Big 12 if he performs how the program expects him to. Self also added that Hunter Dickinson is unique, and he could not think of a comparison for him besides Joel Embiid.

With the talent he has this season, who knows what the limit is for the Jayhawks in 2023-24? The mission is set for a Final Four trip in Phoenix, Arizona, and as of right now, many people in the college basketball world expect them to be there.

To listen to the podcast in its entirety, click here.

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